Artificial limb.



A. MARClNKo.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7; 1919.

' 3 SHEETS--SHEET I.

Patented Apr. 8,1919.

A. IVIARCINKO.

ARTIFICIAL LIIVIB. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1. Isle,

1 299 980 Patented Apr. 8,1919.

, l 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- SH01/wud A. IVIARCINKO.

ARTIFICIAL LHVIB.

APPLICATIUN FILED JAN. T. 191.9,

1,299,980, Patented Apr. 8,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET e.

S14/ue Wto/c 'ran d STATES PATENT OFFCE ANDREW MARoINKo, or JOLIET,ILLINOIS.

y ARTIFICIAL LIMB;

- of a leg removed at the hip of a person,

which comprises means whereby the same will be readily attached andconveniently supported by the person and will permit of movement thereofsubstantially similar to the movement of a persons leg from his hip, bymotion from the body ofthe person.

Other objects and advantages will present themselves as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating the application of theimprovement.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the improvement, approximately on theline 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a substantially similar sectionalr view but showing vthearrangement of parts as when the body of the wearer is bent'to break thejoint between the artificial leg and the ysupport therefor.

- Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the improvement, approximately onthe line 6?6` of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the improvement looking toward the innerside thereof.

The supporting element or socket of the improvement is constructed ofsome pliable material, preferably including an outer portion constructedwholly of leather and an inner cushioning member. The socket 10 has itsinner face open, and its inner edge at the upper corner thereof.extended to provide a strap 11, its opposite upper corner also extendedand provided with a buckle 12 to receive the strap, whereby the devicemay be secured upon the person of the wearer and the stub at the portionof the body from which a limb has been removed is received in thesocket. It is, lof course, to be understood that the socket is shapedSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.,8, 1919.

' Application lfiled January 7, 1919. Serial No. 270,072.

to snuglyY receive the hip 'portion of the wearer and that the inneredge thereof is disposed to one side of the crotch.V Thus the socket isnot contacted by the remaining leg of the wearer or by any of the partsof the wearer except the hip and stub of the leg, the abdomen to oneside of the center of the body, the back, and, of course, thewaistaround which the strap 11 is arranged. Both the abdomen and the back ofthe wearer are braced by a metallic band which is rounded around theouter portion of the socket 10 adjacent to the upper edge thereof, thesaid rounded band being indicated by the numeral 13. The metallic bandis secured to the flexible socket in any desired or preferred manner andhas its ends terminating in a line with the outer edge of the socket atthe open side thereof. To the ends of the band 11 is secured a metallic'casting in the nature of a strap 14 which conforms to the shape ofthesocket and is, of course, arranged at the open side thereof. The 'curvedor roundedstrap 14 may be integrally formed with the band 13 and issecured to the socket 10. The lower and central portion of the strap 14is thickened as at 15 and the said thickened portion is provided with atransverse extension 16 arranged directly below and corresponding to theshape of the bottom portion of the socket 10. This extension 16 isextended around the outer side of the socket as `1 ndicated by thenumeral 17 Y and is secured approximately centrally to the band V13. The

extension, at the juncture of the portionA 17 therewith is provided witha widened or thickened portion 18. vConnected to the extension y17, theband 13and to the socket 10, at the front thereof is a metallic strap 19that conforms to the shape of the socket.

Of course, this strap 14 may be integrally' formed with the remainingmetallicv'elements above recited. The widened''rthick ened portions 17and 18 provide the metallic reinforcements for the socket with the legare braced by a metallic strap or band 23 that is secured t0 theartificial limb.

On the strap 19, adjacent to 'the connection thereof with the extension1G is an` outwardly projecting bifurcated lug 24, In the bifurcated lugis pivoted, as at 25, a rod 26 that is adjustably received in andsecured to the hollow outer portion of a link 27. 'Ihe link 27 isvhingedly connected, asat 28 to a second and fiat link 29, the lastmentioned link being h-ingedly secured, as at 30 in the hollow portionof the artificial limb 22, at the front of the said limb. The link 30isfprovided with an elongated slot 31 which receives therein the notchedshank 32 of a latch member 33. T he latchhas its outer end provided witha head 34 that is arranged eXteriorly oftheslottedface plate of thekeeper 35 for the latch. In the keeper isak spring 36 which bearsagainst the latch, nomnallyfinfl'uencing the same in one direction. Thehead or outer end of the latch has itslower edge arranged at an angle asindicated by the numeral 37.

When the devi-ce is strapped upon the person of the wearer, in a manner'as hereto fore described a pressure of the wearers body in a forwarddirection, with the outer end of the limbl resting upon the ground, willbreak the joint between the links, causing the latch to disengage thelink 30. When the wearer brings his body back to normal verticalposition the links will be swung to alining position and the. catch willengage with the link 30, thus locking the leg vertically with respect tothe body of the wearer. y Y

It is believed, from thel foregoing description, when taken inconnection with the drawings, the simplicity and advantages of theconstruction will be readily apparent without further detaileddescription.

Hav-ing thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

l.y In a device of the'class described, a flexiblel socket, attachingmeans therefor, curved metallic brace members secured to lsaid socket,an artificial limb pivotally con- ,nected to said brace, jointed memberspivoted to the brace and to the limb, and means for engaging one of themembers to hold both of said members in normal longitudinal alinement.

2. In a device of the class described, a flexible socket, attachingmeans therefor, curved metallic brace members secured to said socket, anartificial limb pivotally connected to said brace, jointed memberspivotally connected to the brace and limb respectively, and springinfluenced means for engaging one of the' members to hold both of saidmembers in normal longitudinal alinement. 3. In a device for theypurpose setforth, a flexible socket having an open side, fat-j tachingmeans forfsaid socket, curvedvmetallic brace members secured to theouter ranged at the outer edge of said` socket, an artilicial limbpivotally connected to other ofl vface of'said socket, one of whichbeingv arjustably connected to one ofthe braces, and,

spring influenced means yon the limb for engaging with one of the linksfor holding both of said links in normal longitudinal alinement. Y v

4. In -a device ofY the class described, a

- iexible socket having an open side, an attaching strap adjustable onsaid socket, curved metallic brace members secured to the outer surface'of said socket, one of which being arranged at the upper edge,

thereof, another at the open end thereof, a other at the side thereofand the last at the front thereof, an artificial limb pivotally securedto the brace members at the lower portions thereof, jointed links one ofvwhich being hingedly connected in the limb, the other being adjusta'bly pivoted to the center brace member, one of said links having aslot therethrough, and a springinfluenced catch carried by the limbreceived in said slot to hold the links in normal longitudinalalinement. Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDREW MARcINKo;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

